#Europa steht geopolitisch unter Druck. Verlässlichkeit ist keine Selbstverständlichkeit mehr. Europas Antwort kann nur mehr gemeinsame Verantwortung sein. 🇪🇺 @praesidentin.netzwerk-ebd.de Dr. Anna-Maija Mertens bei der Future Europe Konferenz in #Frankfurt. #EUSky

Es war so toll und wichtig, dass du da warst!! Danke dir!!

Wer wird Frau Europas 2026? Für diese Entscheidung kam die Jury für den Preis Frauen Europas 2026 im EBD-Generalsekretariat zusammen. In einem intensiven Austausch beriet die Jury über die Vergabe des Preises 2026. 🇪🇺✨ #FrauenEuropas

Something unprecedented happened this week in Europe that should alarm every European citizen who values democracy.

Und immer Träumchen, fantastische Mitstreiterinnen zu treffen @geclaired.bsky.social @praesidentin.netzwerk-ebd.de

How do you build up a new EU-agency? What needs to be done to stop money laundering & terrorist financing? And in what way does this refer to the #Draghi Report? That’s the discussion we’re having this morning with Derville Rowland, EB Member of #AMLA, organized by the Irish Consulate in #FfmEuropa

Bring at least the youngsters back 🙏 then #breturn! #EurSky cc @dbjrde.bsky.social @geclaired.bsky.social

Consequently: my take on the State of the EU:
FEDERAZIONE EUROPEA SU-BI-TO! Grazie and ciao. 👋

Afterall, also this year, to me it becomes very clear that the EU needs more than single initiatives: As long as we do have a nationalist member-states perspective 1st, and a European perspective 2nd, we won’t succeed. We must unite 🇪🇺 by uniting the community and establish the respective governing.

the strengthening of the political and social pillar to meet the challenges also brought by the establishment of the economic cooperation. We need to protect those, who are attacked by those anti-democrats that were talked about before: women, LGBTQI+ and youth. Where was youth in the speech at all?

Now, as a federalist I need to say: we must deliver more, and we must deliver more federal. We do live in existential crises so we shouldn’t any longer shy away from substantially reforming and integrating Europe. We NEED to talk about a European army, the right for initiative for the EP,

Finalizes her speech with a shoutout to European firefighters and the proposal of a new fire fighter hub in Cyprus. Seems a little short however against the background, that she delivered little on climate protection earlier.

Again talking about democracy, but only as a bridge to the topic of migration. Now, will she go against her own party and call for #donttouchmyschengen? No. Instead, she wants to work more closely with social media and partners, to prevent illegal smuggling. Sadly, no word at all about #Schengen.

What’s become clear so far: the narrative of “Europe’s independence”. And this is where vdL starts talking about democracy and rule of law - and connects it to the #MFF. Criticizing the rise of disinformation, she announces a center for European democracy resilience - shouting from the far right.

Is it tactical to talk about the US this late? Probably yes. 80% of European trade is with countries other than the US, so the EU should focus eg on Mexico and India. And how to attract researches? By a “Choose Europe” campaign. Very little attention to Donald, he won’t like it.

Hot potato: agriculture. How to protect farmers? By a “buy European” campaign as “our food is the best in the world”. Not sure this is what the farmers hoped for. Maybe I don’t get all of it. Have we already talked about what to do with AGRIFISH, when UA enters the market?

Taking up on social topics: such as housing, she announces a European affordable housing plan. However: A small affordable car initiative? Not sure how this goes along with climate adaptions and the “consume less, share more” approach that is needed.

Now competition and tech: strengthening of the single market until 2028, and implement the reforms proposed by Mario #Draghi (SI!), strengthening circular economy, call for an industrial accelerator act, and reach strategic autonomy with the help of AI. No sign of banking union, fiscal market etc.

She doesn’t forget to call for the release of hostages and the fight of Hamas as a terror organisation, putting all people in the levante at existential risk. And she underlines several times the need for a 2-state solution. I thinks she hasn’t heard about the federalist solution yet. This is tbc.

Among the proposed measures - bilateral support to Israel will be put on hold, except for CSOs. Sanctions to extremist ministers and violent settlers. Partial suspension of association agreement on trade-related matters and the set up of a Palestine donor group.

Now she refers to #Gaza: “Man made famine can never be a weapon of war.” She criticizes the lack of unification among member states that prevents the EU from a clear reaction, and announces - this is huge - that the commission will therefore “do what it can do alone”. So: circumvent the council.

Talking about Europe’s independence and unity, the head of commission calls for support in reforms to integrate Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans. “Let’s make the unification of Europe happen!” Good sign to these countries and clear call towards the member states. #euenlargement

Now how to further support UA? One, by frontload 6 billion Euros to enter into drone alliance in Ukraine. But also calling for strong and credible European defence - does she dare to use to a-word? No.

Headlining the most crucial threats, the war against Europe in Ukraine, she announces a Summit of the international coalition of the return for Ukrainian children - something the Council of Europe is already tirelessly working on. Is this a sign for stronger cooperation between the EU and the CoE?

fight, power, battlelines - the language of this years #SOTEU is certainly extraordinary. VdL rightly points out the existential challenges Europe’s fighting and calling for unity between member states, institutions and the pro-European forces within the #EP.

👥 Ihre Themen & Stimmen:

Die #Jugend vertreten: Carolin Vogt, DFJW & Özge Erdoğan @dbjrde.bsky.social. Die Stimmen der #Demokratie sind: Clara Föller (@geclaired.bsky.social) von den @jef-deutschland.bsky.social ‬ & Sergei Tereshenkov vom Civil Society Forum. #GERMANY75COE

Das ist riesig: Das OLG Hamm legt fest, dass große Treibhausgas-Emittenten wie #RWE in der Pflicht sind, Betroffene weltweit vor der Klimakrise zu schützen.

Das heutige Urteil sendet somit ein starkes Zeichen – und könnte auch international erfolgreiche Klagen anstoßen.

Ein 🧵

Hauptthema der Sitzung - #KoordinierungEU unter der neuen #Bundesregierung. Aus europapolitischer Perspektive fällt der erste Eindruck des EBD-Vorstands positiv aus.
➡️ Entscheidend: Konkrete Umsetzung in der Legislaturperiode. 💬 Hoffnung, dass #Europa kein Randthema, sondern aktiv mitgedacht wird.

If you want peace in Ukraine, pressure Russia. If you want war, don’t. The Trump people only make concessions. Which is exactly what the Kremlin expected. The US through its astounding weakness is making the war longer and bloodier than it has to be.

Letzten Freitag, nach der Nominiering durch das DNK, haben die MOs des 🇪🇺 @youthforum.bsky.social mir ihr Vertrauen ausgesprochen und mich in den AC gewählt. Mit großem Respekt & sehr viel Freude blicke ich dieser wichtigen Aufgabe entgegen. Es geht immerhin um Jugend & Demokratie, es geht um alles.